Wash. smoker 'like a kid in a candy store' as pot legalized

From left, Andre Edwards, G.E. Montoya, and J. Smiley pass around a glass pipe as they smoke marijuana, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012, just after midnight at the Space Needle in Seattle. Possession of marijuana became legal in Washington state at midnight, and several hundred people gathered at the Space Needle to smoke and celebrate the occasion, even though the new law does prohibit public use of marijuana.

SEATTLE — The crowds of happy people lighting joints under Seattle's Space Needle early Thursday morning with nary a police officer in sight bespoke the new reality: Marijuana is legal under Washington state law.

Hundreds gathered at Seattle Center for a New Year's Eve-style countdown to 12 a.m., when the legalization measure passed by voters last month took effect. When the clock struck, they cheered and sparked up in unison.

A few dozen people gathered on a sidewalk outside the north Seattle headquarters of the annual Hempfest celebration and did the same, offering joints to reporters and blowing smoke into television news cameras.

Washington and Colorado became the first states to vote to decriminalize and regulate the possession of an ounce or less of marijuana by adults over 21. Both measures call for setting up state licensing schemes for pot growers, processors and retail stores. Colorado's law is set to take effect by Jan. 5.

Technically, Washington's new marijuana law still forbids smoking pot in public, which remains punishable by a fine, like drinking in public. But pot fans wanted a party, and Seattle police weren't about to write them any tickets.

In another sweeping change for Washington, Gov. Chris Gregoire on Wednesday signed into law a measure that legalizes same-sex marriage. The state joins several others that allow gay and lesbian couples to wed.

The mood was festive in Seattle as dozens of gay and lesbian couples got in line to pick up marriage licenses at the King County auditor's office early Thursday.

King County and Thurston County announced they would open their auditors' offices shortly after midnight Wednesday to accommodate those who wanted to be among the first to get their licenses.

Kelly Middleton and her partner Amanda Dollente got in line at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Hours later, as the line grew, volunteers distributed roses and a group of men and women serenaded the waiting line to the tune of "Going to the Chapel."

Because the state has a three-day waiting period, the earliest that weddings can take place is Sunday.

In dealing with marijuana, the Seattle Police Department told its 1,300 officers on Wednesday, just before legalization took hold, that until further notice they shall not issue citations for public marijuana use.

Officers will be advising people not to smoke in public, police spokesman Jonah Spangenthal-Lee wrote on the SPD Blotter. "The police department believes that, under state law, you may responsibly get baked, order some pizzas and enjoy a 'Lord of the Rings' marathon in the privacy of your own home, if you want to."

He offered a catchy new directive referring to the film "The Big Lebowski," popular with many marijuana fans: "The Dude abides, and says 'take it inside!'"

"This is a big day because all our lives we've been living under the iron curtain of prohibition," said Hempfest director Vivian McPeak. "The whole world sees that prohibition just took a body blow."

Washington's new law decriminalizes possession of up to an ounce for those over 21, but for now selling marijuana remains illegal. I-502 gives the state a year to come up with a system of state-licensed growers, processors and retail stores, with the marijuana taxed 25 percent at each stage. Analysts have estimated that a legal pot market could bring Washington hundreds of millions of dollars a year in new tax revenue for schools, health care and basic government functions.

But marijuana remains illegal under federal law. That means federal agents can still arrest people for it, and it's banned from federal properties, including military bases and national parks.

The Justice Department has not said whether it will sue to try to block the regulatory schemes in Washington and Colorado from taking effect.

"The department's responsibility to enforce the Controlled Substances Act remains unchanged," said a statement issued Wednesday by the Seattle U.S. attorney's office. "Neither states nor the executive branch can nullify a statute passed by Congress" — a non-issue, since the measures passed in Washington and Colorado don't "nullify" federal law, which federal agents remain free to enforce.

The legal question is whether the establishment of a regulated marijuana market would "frustrate the purpose" of the federal pot prohibition, and many constitutional law scholars say it very likely would.

That leaves the political question of whether the administration wants to try to block the regulatory system, even though it would remain legal to possess up to an ounce of marijuana.

Alison Holcomb is the drug policy director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington and served as the campaign manager for New Approach Washington, which led the legalization drive. She said the voters clearly showed they're done with marijuana prohibition.

"New Approach Washington sponsors and the ACLU look forward to working with state and federal officials and to ensure the law is fully and fairly implemented," she said.

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The first dominoes have fallen. They times they - finally - ARE a'changin'! This is a sea change for the good. Any switch from alcohol is a good one. Don't see many fights, or any DUI's with pot. Hope Obama follows through on the federal level soon. And gay marriage in the same year. What a year it's been! :)

Elizabeth. you think Jesus`s artlclee is flabbergasting... on friday I got a top of the range Citroën DS after having made $8812 this last month and in excess of $10k this past month. with-out any doubt it's the nicest-job I have ever done. I started this 3 months ago and pretty much immediately was earning at least $71 per-hr. I follow the details here...Above

I guess if you wanna smoke pot it's just another one of those self defeating behaviors that will keep you from getting and keeping a decent job.

It will be interesting to see the potheads losing their jobs for drug use and the ensuing attempts at legal action. The safety of the public and the safety of co workers will be at risk with the coming of the legal potheads.

"Only in America can we find people fighting tooth and nail to legitimize pot and at the same time fighting to criminalize tobacco. Go figure!?!"

Cigarettes alone kill 400,000+ people a YEAR, there are ZERO reported cases of marijuana killing anyone in the WHOLE HISTORY of it's prohibition or existence for that matter. It has several Medicinal purposes such as calming anxiety, but instead doctors prescribe Xanax or something of that nature which is one of the major problems in today's society Prescription drugs. So tell me again how this argument is valid?

Tobacco has an anxiety calming effect too. To quote Wikipedia... " Deaths directly attributed to cannibas usage are infrequent but have been documented." No doubt pot has a purpose and a use. Much like most prescription drugs, which aren't all bad.

First of all I didn't say prescription drugs were not useful, they are abused, most definitely some have a legitimate use. But there is a substance abuse problem in America's youth directly correlating with overdoses of whatever they may be anxiety (Xanax), pain meds (Hydrocodine) it is a problem. Next your argument is irrelevant after that considering you quoted Wikipedia.. Really? find a source that is credible if you want to debate a point.

And I'm sure this is based on your vast knowledge from past pot legalization. Or possibly your vast knowledge in the effects and symptoms of pot use. Please get an education before you spread your blatant ignorance.

I pray that the ones of you that wish marijuana to become legal here in Texas never have too experience you, or one of your loved ones that made the decision to smoke a joint then get behind the wheel of a vehicle and end up dead or worse yet, killing someone.

Then you or one of your loved ones experience reading about the incident when you or your loved ones name is published in a newspaper, then you or your loved ones read all the terrible comments posted about you or them.

This is really great news - a state voting and legalizing something that's against federal law! Now, in Texas, we can pass a law stating if you live in Texas legally, work in Texas legally and/or own a business in Texas legally, you don't have to pay Federal Taxes!! YES!!! Gets me high just thinking about it. :-)

I really hope that it will be legalized.. I have personally seen and have experienced the benefits of smoking pot. I have seen the pain eased for a cancer patient and their appetite return. I've seen a cancer patient be able to remain awake and calm to visit with their family in the last days of their life instead of being cold and unresponsive from the use of Morphine / Ativan / Haldol and other medications otherwise needed to control their pain & anxiety
Yes indeed the time spent with my loved one was special and allowed us the chance to mend some broken fences.
I personally do not smoke pot because but, I see nothing wrong with it. I would much rather be around a room full of pot heads than a bar full of drunks..

Derock where did I claim to be an expert? It's an opinion and if you can't handle it or don't wanna see it then I don't know what to tell you. I'll go on being ignorant(in your opinion) and those of you wanting to espouse being part of the dope smoking portion of society can get on with it. Guaranteed I'll never fail a pee test based on my opinion. In the meantime employers, insurance companies, and the authorities will continue to weed out the dopesmoking potheads.

Bronzfish can continue to use the search engine to dig up any information needed to prove any side of any argument. I don't guess I feel the need to defend my opinion. Sorry. Can't say it won't happen again.